SenShot 2014 NHL Mock Draft Picks 1-5

#2 Buffalo Sabres

Apr 13, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center

Torrey Mitchell

(17) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the New York Islanders at First Niagara Center. Islanders beat Buffalo 4 to 3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Sabres finished dead last in the NHL, but fell to the #2 pick when the Panthers won the draft lottery.

Buffalo is pretty stacked in terms of top end prospect on the blue line, so they probably aren’t too concerned with Ekblad, far and away the top blueline prospect available, going ahead of their pick.  That just means they will have the top choice among the forwards.

The Sabres likely won’t get a player who will make the jump to the NHL next year, so they will have to be willing to be patient.

The Sabres need a player who combines size and skill, and that player is German-born forward Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.

Draisaitl is 6’1, 210 lbs and is versatile enough to play centre and wing.  He is a dynamic skater who started really turning heads in the 2013 World Juniors where he was Germany’s best player as an underager.